aromatherapy for sun burn

In our excitement for the outdoors, we often become careless in protecting our skin from the harsh rays of the sun. Hats, sunglasses and sunscreens are easily forgotten when there are so many fun activities waiting out there. Little do we realize the vulnerability of our skin and the damage that could result from prolonged exposure to the sun.
Last week my son went to the lake and silly me didn’t realize the sun was going to be so strong! He came home with severe sunburn and was so much pain that he couldn’t bear anything touching his body.
Luckily for him, his mama always has some aromatic help at hand!

Here’s how I helped my son feel better with essential oils and you can do the same:

I mixed 15 drops of Lavender, 15 drops of Peppermintand 4 drops of Niaouli oils with a teaspoon of salt and added it to a small bottle of distilled water.

I then shook the bottle well and sprayed the concoction very liberally over the affected area. Peppermint, Lavender and Niaouli have anti-inflammatory properties and help to soothe the skin.

Sun-burnt skin is very painful to touch but application of a good oil is necessary to nourish the skin and replenish lost moisture. I mixed 20 drops of Lavender oil with 5 drops of Frankincense oil in 1 oz of Jojoba Oil and drizzled it over the skin, spreading it with very gentle strokes.

Finally, I used a light towel to do compresses. I added 10 drops of Lavender, 4 drops of Peppermint and 4 drops of Frankincense to a teaspoon of salt and mixed it in a bowl of iced water. I then immersed the towel, wrung out excess water and gently placed it on affected skin, especially the back. The cooling effect of the towel helped my son sleep better while the oils worked their magic on his skin. I recommend that you do compresses at least three times a day for best results.